Combination lid and seat



Dec. 17, 1963 H. M. PRYALE 3,114,574

COMBINATION LID AND SEAT Filed March a. 1961 INVENTOR. HARRY M. PRYALE ATTO R N EYS awl M/MPLMH United States Patent ()li ice Patented Dec. l7, 1963 3,114,574 CGMBINATIUN Lil) AND SEAT Harry M. Pryaie, 25 Barbour Lane,

Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Filed Mar. 6, 1961, Ser. No. hfiflitl 7 Claims. (ill. 2?7--193) This invention relates generally to a combination lid and seat and refers more particularly to a lid-seat assembly for an open top container.

One object of this invention is to provide a lid-seat assembly for an open top container comprising a unit which includes a removable lid for the open top of the container and a seat on the lid.

Another object is to provide a back rest which is hinged to the seat for movement between a generally upright position of use and a collapsed position folded upon the seat.

nother object is to provide a U-shaped handle for the container having the legs thereof straddling the lid-seat assembly and pivoted to oppositesides of the container, and a sliding pivotal connection between the legs of the handle and the back rest. According to this construction, when the back rest assumes its collapsed position folded upon the seat, the lid-seat assembly may be moved to a position wherein the lid closes the open top of the container, at which time the handle assumes an upright position suitable for carrying the container, and may be moved to a; position at one side of the container, at which time the handle assumes an inclined position. when the lid is in position closing the open top of the container, the back rest may be swung from its collapsed position to its generally upright position of use, at which time the handle assumes an intermediate position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction as described above wherein the handle is provided with abutments engageable with the back rest to support the same in its position of use and to support the lid-seat assembly at one side of the container.

Other objects and features of the invention will be come apparent as the following description proceeds, especially when considered with the accompanying drawing, 'wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of structure embodying my invention with pants broken away and in section.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the structure shown in FIGURE 1, with parts thereof in a diiferent position.

FIGURE 3 is similar to FIGURE 2 but shows another r position of certain parts of the structure.

FlGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing still another position of the parts.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, showing the lid in position closing the open top of the container and showing the back rest in its generally upright position of use.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 19 generally designates a container which may be used for food or "beverages, for example. Preferably, a heat insulating liner 12 covers the inner surface of the container so that foods or beverages may be kept at the desired temperature for extended periods of time. The container is open at the top and the upper edge of the cylindrical side wall 14 of the container is formed with a circular recess 16 providing a seat for the lid hereinafter described.

The reference numeral 18 generally designates the lidseat assembly of this invention and includes a lid Zii. The lid 20 includes a circular disc or plate 22 having a diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of the wall 14 of the container so that when in its position Furthermore,

closing the open top of the container the margin of the plate 22 rests upon the upper end of wall 14 and is flush with the outer surface thereof (see FlGURE 5). A thickness of heart insulating material 24 is carried by the underside of the plate and extends into the recess 16 of the container when the lid is applied over the open top thereof.

A seat 26 is permanently secured to the upper side of the plate 22 of the lid. The seat may be in the form of a pad designed to provide a cushioned support.

The back rest is generally designated by the numeral 28 and includes a flat plate 3i) having a cushioned pad 32., similar to the seat pad 2.6. The back rest is hinged to the plate 22 by a piano-type hinge 3d. The piano-type hinge is in the form of a right-angle shaped member 36, one flange of which is secured to the plate 22 in surface-to-surface relation therewith and projects under an edge of the pad 26. The other flange or" the angle member 36 extends at right angles to the plate 22, and at its upper end has a pivotal connection, indicated at 33, with $116 edge of the plate 3d of the back rest. The back rest may swing about its pivot with respect to the seat 26 from the collapsed position shown in FlGU E3 2 and 3 in which the pad 32 of the back rest overlies engages the pad 25 of the seat, to a generally upright position of use shown in FEGURES 4 and 5 wherein the back rest projects from the rear edge of the seat in a generally upward direction.

A carrying handle 4% is provided for the container. The carrying handle is in the form of a generally U shaped member having laterally spaced parallel legs 42 and 44 which are connected at their upper ends by an integral transverse element 45. Pivots 48 and Sii are secured to the container on opposite sides thereof in ali nment with each other, the common axis of the pivots being parallel to the axis of swinging movement for the back rest provided by the pivot connection 38. The legs 42 and 44 of the handle are formed with longitudinally extending slots 52 which are closed at both ends. The pivot pins 48 and 5t slidably engage in the respective slots 52 of the handle legs 4?; and 44. The pivot pins are headed to prevent the handle from becoming detached.

A rod 54 is secured to the upper surface of the plate 3% of the back rest, extending parallel to the axis of hinge 33. The opposite ends of the rod 54- extend beyond the opposite edges of the plate 3h for the cover and are slidably pivotally received in the slots 52. The rod ends are also headed for the same purpose.

The arrangement is such that the lid-seat assembly 18 may assume any of the various positions shown in FIG- URES l to 5 of the drawing. Normally, when the con tainer is closed, the assembly 18 will assume the position shown in FIGURE 3. In this position, the lid 2i) closes the open top of the container, the back rest 28 is in its folded or collapsed position resting upon the seat, and the handle is upright but at its lower limit determined by the engagement of the upper ends of slots 52 with the pivot ends of the rod 54. When it is desired to move the container, the transverse element 46 of the handle is gripped in the hand and lifted to the FIGURE 2 position, limited by engagement of the lower ends of the slots 52 with the pivots 48 and St The position of the lid and back rest is not changed, and the container may then be lifted by the hand-1e and carried from place to place.

When it is desired to use the assembly 18 as a seat, the back rest is merely pivoted from its collapsed position to its position of use shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. At the same time the handle 40 will swing from its vertical or upright position to the position shown in FIG- URES 4 and 5. The pivots 43 and 5t engage the lower ends of the slots 52 and the pivot ends of rod 54 engage the upper ends of the slots 52 to provide a limit of swinging movement for the back rest, thereby determining its position of use.

When it is desired to open the container, the entire assembly may be moved to the position of FIGURE 1 in which the insulated bottom of the lid 29 rests against the side of the container and the back rest 23 is folded fiat against the seat. In this position, the pivots 48 and 50 engage one end of the slots 52 and the pivot ends of rod 54 engage the other end, thereby firmly supporting the seatlid assembly 18' in the FIGURE 1 position.

What I claim as my invention'is:

1. A lidseat assembly for an open top container, comprising a unit including a member removably engageable with said container to close the open top thereof and having a seat portion, said unit also including a back rest, means pivotally connecting said back rest to said member for swinging movement from a position of use projecting in a generally upward direction from an edge of said seat portion to a collapsed position overlying said seat portion, means mounting said unit for movement from a closed position in which said member closes the open top of said container as aforesaid to an open position at one side of said container including first and second pivots respectively on said container and on said back rest, an elongated member having a longitudinally sliding pivotal connection With both said first and second pivots, the axes of said pivots and the axis of swinging movement of said back rest being mutually parallel so that in the closed position of said unit said back rest may swing between its position of use and its collapsed position without interference.

2. The assembly defined in claim 1, wherein a third pivot is provided on said container in transverse alignment with said first pivot, a fourth pivot is provided on said back rest in transverse alignment with said second pivot, and a second elongated member is provided having a longitudinally sliding pivotal connection with both said third and fourth pivots.

3. The assembly defined in claim 2, wherein said elongated members have elongated slots extending in the direction of length thereof which slidably engage the pivots, said slots being closed at either end to locate said unit when moved to its open position and to locate said back rest in its position of use.

4. The assembly defined in claim 3, wherein the corresponding ends of said elongated members are connected by a transverse member extending across the outer side of the back rest to form a generally U-shaped member, said second and fourth pivots are located above said first and third pivots in the closed position of said unit to hold the U-shaped member in upright position so that it can serve as a carrying handle.

5. A lid-seat assembly for an open top container, comprising a unit including a member removably engageable with said container to close the open top thereof and having a seat portion, said unit also including a back rest, means pivotally connecting said back rest to said member for swinging movement from a position of use projecting in a generally upward direction from an edge of s id seat portion to a collapsed position overlying said 4 seat portion, means mounting said unit for movement from a closed position in which said member closes the open top of said container as aforesaid to an open position at one side of said container including first and second pivots respectively on said container and on said back rest, and an elongated member having a longitudinally sliding pivotal connection with at least one of said first and second pivots and having a pivotal connection with the other, the axes of said pivots and the axis of swinging movement of said back rest being mutually parallel so that in the closed position of said unit said back rest may swing between its position of use and its collapsed position without interference.

6. A lid-seat assembly for an open top container, comprising a unit including a member removably engageable with said container to close the open top thereof and having a seat portion, said unit also including a back rest, means pivotally connecting said back rest to said member for swinging movement from a position of use projecting in a generally upward direction from an edge of said seat portion to a collapsed position overlying said seat portion, means mounting said unit for movement from a closed position in which said member closes the open top of said container as aforesaid to an open position at one side of said container including first and second pivots respectively on said container and on said unit, and an elongated member having a longitudinally sliding pivotal connection with at least one of said first and second pivots and having a pivotal connection with the other.

7. A lid-seat assembly for an open top container, comprising a closure unit for the open top of said container provided with a seat, and means mounting said unit for movement from a closed position closing the open top of said container to an open position at one side of said container including first transversely aligned pivots on opposite sides of said container, second transversely aligned pivots on opposite sides of said unit, and a U- shaped member the legs of which are respectively pivotally connected to said first pivots, said legs respectively having a longitudinal sliding pivotal connection with said second pivots, said second pivots being above said first pivots in the closed position of said unit so that said member is held generally upright by said first and second pivots to provide a carrying handle.

References Eited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 203,541 Henkel May 14, 1878 579,337 Boniface Mar. 23, 1897 691,842 Connor Ian. 28, 1902 1,663,901 Brown Mar. 27, 1928 1,767,925 Hargreaves June 24, 1930 2,254,141 Garcia Aug. 26, 1941 2,509,395 Madan May 30, 1950 2,606,599 Santosuosso Aug. 12, 1952 2,693,227 Holland Nov. 2, 1954 2,919,169 Jackson Dec. 29, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 26,396 Great Britain 1909 

1. A LID-SEAT ASSEMBLY FOR AN OPEN TOP CONTAINER, COMPRISING A UNIT INCLUDING A MEMBER REMOVABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID CONTAINER TO CLOSE THE OPEN TOP THEREOF AND HAVING A SEAT PORTION, SAID UNIT ALSO INCLUDING A BACK REST, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID BACK REST TO SAID MEMBER FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT FROM A POSITION OF USE PROJECTING IN A GENERALLY UPWARD DIRECTION FROM AN EDGE OF SAID SEAT PORTION TO A COLLAPSED POSITION OVERLYING SAID SEAT PORTION, MEANS MOUNTING SAID UNIT FOR MOVEMENT FROM A CLOSED POSITION IN WHICH SAID MEMBER CLOSES THE OPEN TOP OF SAID CONTAINER AS AFORESAID TO AN OPEN POSITION AT ONE SIDE OF SAID CONTAINER INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND PIVOTS RESPECTIVELY ON SAID CONTAINER AND ON SAID BACK REST, AN ELONGATED MEMBER HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY SLIDING PIVOTAL CONNECTION WITH BOTH SAID FIRST AND SECOND PIVOTS, THE AXES OF SAID PIVOTS AND THE AXIS OF SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID BACK REST BEING MUTUALLY PARALLEL SO THAT IN THE CLOSED POSITION OF SAID UNIT SAID BACK REST MAY SWING BETWEEN ITS POSITION OF USE AND ITS COLLAPSED POSITION WITHOUT INTERFERENCE. 